Skil Rechargeable 4V Screwdriver with 42 PC Bit Kit

A compact driver that punches above its weight

Small screwdrivers can feel like toys; this one doesn’t. The Skil 4V driver is clearly designed for day‑to‑day chores and flat‑pack furniture, and it handles that brief with a thoughtful feature set and just enough torque to be genuinely useful. After several weeks of assembling cabinets, swapping door hardware, and tackling a handful of household fixes, I’ve come away impressed by how often I reached for it instead of a full‑size drill/driver.

Design and ergonomics

Skil keeps the form factor tight and light. At about 0.8 lb with a 5.7‑inch length, it’s easy to carry and doesn’t fatigue your wrist during long sessions. The handle rotates between a pistol grip and an inline screwdriver, which matters more than it sounds. In pistol mode I had better leverage and visibility; in inline mode I could sneak between close shelves or into the back of a cabinet. The transition is quick and positive, and there’s no noticeable flex when you lean on it.

The 1/4‑inch hex chuck is magnetic rather than a mechanical lock. Bit swaps are quick, and the retention is strong enough that I never lost a bit in a screw head. There’s dual magnetic bit storage along the body that sounds gimmicky but proved practical: I kept a PH2 and a T25 on the tool and rarely had to dig for the kit.

Skil builds in an LED work light that’s bright enough for under‑sink hinges, the inside of a cabinet, or the back of an entertainment console. The light sits close to the nose, so you’ll still cast a tight shadow when you’re flush to a surface, but overall visibility is better than what most compact drivers offer.

Speed, torque, and control

On paper, the 4V motor spins at 220 rpm with up to 36 in‑lbs (4 Nm) of torque. In use, that means controlled driving for small to medium hardware rather than rapid screw removal. It’s ideal for furniture, cabinet hinges, outlet and switch plate screws, drawer slides, door strike plates, and general hardware installs. With proper pilot holes, it will run #8–#10 wood screws into softwood cleanly. I also drove several 2‑1/2‑inch construction screws into pine with generous pilots; the driver slowed noticeably at the end but didn’t stall, and I finished the last quarter turn by hand for a perfect seat.

There are no adjustable torque settings, so finesse is on you. The low top speed helps—220 rpm gives you time to stop before you bury a screw—but for delicate hardware like brass hinges or electronics panels, I appreciated the included mini screwdriver handle. It accepts the same 1/4‑inch bits and makes it painless to snug or back off a fastener without risk of stripping.

One standout detail is the slim magnetic bit collar. It sleeves over the bit and grabs the screw head, which lets you start screws one‑handed when you can’t hold the fastener with your off hand. It also comes in handy on vertical surfaces where losing a screw start would normally mean a few minutes on your knees searching the floor.

Battery and charging

The battery is a 6 Wh lithium‑ion pack (roughly 1.5 Ah at 4V). Runtime exceeded my expectations. I assembled a flat‑pack cabinet, installed six pairs of soft‑close slides, and adjusted a dozen hinges on a single charge with power to spare. That kind of duty cycle is typical of what most folks will do in an evening or a weekend morning.

Charging is via micro USB. The upside: you can top it off with almost any phone charger you have around. The downside: micro USB is dated and less durable than USB‑C, and charge rates vary by adapter. With a decent wall plug, I could get from low to full over lunch. There’s no removable battery, which is par for the category but worth noting—if you drain it completely mid‑project, you’ll either plug in and wait or switch to a manual driver.

The bit kit and accessories

Skil packs a surprising amount of utility into the included bits and adapters. You get a broad selection of 1‑inch driver bits for common hardware, plus “slim” 2‑inch and 4‑inch bits that reduce the overall nose diameter for recessed fasteners. The 2‑3/8‑inch magnetic bit holder extends reach and improves access without wobble. Bit quality is good for the intended use; I saw no premature wear on Phillips and Torx profiles after several projects.

Two extras deserve special mention. First, the cam screw sleeve. If you’ve built flat‑pack furniture with cam locks, you know those fasteners can be fussy to seat without slipping and marring the cam head. This sleeve centers and supports the driver on the cam, making the job much smoother. Second, the mini screwdriver handle I mentioned earlier—simple, but it turns the kit into a complete solution when you want to finish by hand.

In use: where it shines

• Flat‑pack furniture: Between the slim bits, the cam sleeve, and the moderate torque, this driver feels purpose‑built for ready‑to‑assemble furniture. I put together a wardrobe and a pair of nightstands quickly and with fewer stripped heads than when I rush with a full‑size drill.
• Hardware installation: Door strikes, cabinet pulls, and hinge adjustments go fast with the low speed and good trigger control. The LED helps inside cabinets.
• General household fixes: Loose towel bars, outlet and switch plates, HVAC register screws, appliance panels—the driver’s compact size lets you work where a drill is awkward, and the one‑handed start collar saves time.

Limitations to keep in mind

• Not a drill replacement: It can spin self‑tapping screws into thin sheet metal with patience, but it’s not a metalworker’s tool and it’s not for deck screws or lag bolts. If you regularly work with hardwood, long structural screws, or exterior fasteners, keep a 12V/18V drill/driver close.
• No torque clutch: You can’t set a torque limit. The slow speed helps, but it’s still possible to overdrive small screws. I made a habit of finishing delicate fasteners by hand.
• Micro USB charging: Convenient, but less robust than USB‑C and slower with dated wall warts. There’s also no battery gauge beyond indicator lights, so plan ahead for longer tasks.
• Single‑speed feel: While the motor’s top speed is low and easy to modulate, it doesn’t have the crisp variable‑speed trigger response of larger drivers. For most use, that’s fine; just don’t expect it to zip out long screws in a flash.

Build quality and usability notes

The plastics and seams are tidy, and the selector switch engages positively in forward and reverse. Bit runout is minimal for a compact magnetic chuck; I didn’t see wobble that would cause cam‑outs when I maintained proper pressure. The magnets in the on‑tool bit storage are stronger than expected—I carried two bits there during an afternoon of cabinet work and didn’t lose them, even crawling under a sink.

The LED light activates as soon as you squeeze the trigger, and it stays on briefly after release, which helps when you’re checking alignment before committing. I’d prefer a slightly broader flood pattern, but for tight quarters it’s effective.

Who it’s for

If your projects live mostly in the realm of household maintenance, furniture assembly, and light DIY, this driver hits a sweet spot. It’s quick to grab, easy to control, and it comes with the right accessories. Apartment dwellers, new homeowners, and anyone who hates dragging a full‑size drill out for a five‑minute task will get the most value here. Pros might keep it as a glovebox or service‑bag driver for light panel work and hardware, but it won’t replace a higher‑voltage tool on a jobsite.

Recommendation

I recommend the Skil 4V driver for anyone who needs a compact, capable screwdriver for everyday tasks. It combines genuinely useful features—the adjustable grip, magnetic one‑handed start collar, cam screw sleeve, and a well‑rounded bit kit—with enough torque and runtime to be more than a gadget. The trade‑offs are clear: it’s not built for heavy carpentry, it lacks a torque clutch, and micro USB charging feels dated. But for the jobs most people face around the house, it’s faster and more precise than a manual driver and far more convenient than breaking out a full drill. That balance of control, size, and smart accessories is what makes it a regular in my toolkit.